Shubman Gill has been handed the reins of the Indian Test team for their upcoming England tour, starting June 20. This marks a significant moment in his career, as he steps up to lead a squad that will be missing the seasoned leadership of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Appointed earlier this month after Rohit’s retirement announcement, Gill becomes the fifth youngest Indian to captain a Test side. While many are excited by his potential, others have questioned his readiness, given his relatively modest Test record.
Gill’s Test average stands at 35.05 from 32 matches, and in his three previous Test appearances in England, he has struggled, amassing just 88 runs across six innings at an average of 14.66. Despite these concerns, World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev remains optimistic about Gill’s future as captain. Kapil urges a positive outlook, emphasizing that Gill’s selection was based on his potential, not his past performances.
“This is a new assignment, and I focus on the positives,” Kapil said in an interview with Sportstar. “It doesn’t matter what his average was in the previous tour to England. Let’s not dwell on the negatives. He has been picked for his potential, and I’m confident he will excel.”
Although Gill has no prior leadership experience in Test cricket, Kapil believes he’s up for the task. “It won’t be easy in England, as it never is, but someone has to take responsibility,” Kapil continued. “Gill is the right person to lead. The selectors have made this choice with a purpose, investing in him for the long term. He will need the support of his teammates and fans, and I believe he will rise to the occasion.”
India’s squad for the tour includes several new faces, such as Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh, alongside the return of experienced players like Shardul Thakur and Karun Nair, who have impressed in domestic cricket. Kapil sees this as a positive, noting that lower expectations could benefit the team. “It’s good that the expectations are not too high because the team is young,” he said. “Being underdogs can often help a team perform better.”
Despite his confidence in Gill’s leadership, Kapil cautions that the young captain must stay sharp, especially in England’s challenging conditions. “Gill will learn to shoulder responsibility, and good form with the bat will be key to his success,” Kapil added. “I’m happy for him because he looks like a solid batsman, but he must never relax when playing in England.”
With the support of key players like Jasprit Bumrah, Kapil believes Shubman Gill is ready to make his mark as India’s Test captain and lead the team to new heights.